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In pursuing its goal of promoting the training of Commercial Diplomats,
the Institute for Trade and Commercial Diplomacy (ITCD) develops
and publishes instructional materials on the professional practice
of Commercial Diplomacy. These materials include information about
curricula and courses, instructional modules, case studies, simulations,
operational documents reflecting best professional practice, and
a guide to resources available elsewhere. ITCD also works with
other organizations involved in the development of training materials
or in the establishment of new training programs in Commercial
Diplomacy. ITCD provides samples of most of the materials it has
developed on its website, which are available free of charge.
ITCD retains copyright to the materials, and is happy to discuss
with interested parties licensing arrangements for commercial
use for a fee. The various program elements and their rationale
are described below.
1.
Comprehensive model Commercial Diplomacy curriculum, including
course outlines
The
founder of ITCD has developed a model curriculum for graduate
training in Commercial Diplomacy, which formed the foundation
for the Masters Degree in Trade Policy at the Monterey Institute
and influenced the Masters Degree in Trade Policy at the University
of the West Indies. ITCD has shared this curriculum, including
course outlines, with other interested educational institutions
and has prepared other interested institutions, since the development
of professionally oriented graduate education in Commercial
Diplomacy and the related field of trade policy management remains
a priority goal of the of the Institute.
2.
Instructional modules forcourses in Commercial Diplomacy
ITCD
has developed instructional modules for each of the professional
skills required in Commercial Diplomacy. These instructional
modules form the foundation of ITCD’s customized training
programs and its online certificate program in Commercial Diplomacy
(see No. 7 for a full description). Each of these modules includes
PowerPoint presentations, talking points, teaching notes, a
study guide, and other supporting materials. ITCD makes a sample
of these materials available through its website, and licenses
these materials to interested institutions. ITCD’s goal
is to assist institutions interested in developing training
programs in Commercial Diplomacy, and to upgrade available teaching
materials to a level of quality comparable to those available
in business management and public administration programs. ITCD
also hopes to contribute to the professionalization and broader
public recognition of this new area of academic training.
ITCD’s goal is to augment the current electronic modules
with new technologies such as interactive Internet applications,
CD-ROMs, and video presentations. Ultimately, ITCD expects to
develop textbooks on how to manage trade negotiations and make
trade policy.
3.
Case studies of past decisions in Commercial Diplomacy
ITCD
develops and publishes case studies of past decisions in Commercial
Diplomacy. These cases are written from the point of view of
someone responsible for managing the trade policy making and
negotiating process. Case studies in Commercial Diplomacy are
built around historically important or particularly interesting
trade problems and demonstrate how they were addressed through
advocacy programs, legislation, negotiations, or dispute settlement.
Case studies developed by ITCD cover a wide range of issues,
countries, industries, types of negotiations, methods of dispute
settlement, and approaches to public advocacy.
The case study approach, like that used in Harvard's Executive
Training programs, is effective in teaching the operational
aspects of Commercial Diplomacy. They provide insights into
the political and economic strategies that are employed by industry
advocates, politicians, and government officials. Furthermore,
they give both students and professionals a way to learn from
past successes and mistakes. Case studies afford the critical
opportunity to ask of past trade negotiations what went well,
what didn't, and what could be improved. Such an analysis is
rarely, if ever, conducted.
Distribution of these studies to current practitioners in the
business community and the government will enable them to reflect
on past negotiation successes and failures and improve their
performance in future trade negotiations.
A list of case studies developed by ITCD is available on this
web site. ITCD is prepared to license these cases upon request.
4.
Simulations of real-world negotiations, dispute Settlement,
press conferences, public hearings
Simulations
of negotiations and dispute settlements are a core part of a
hands-on approach to professional training in Commercial Diplomacy.
They provide a nuts-and-bolts perspective that is an excellent
way to train trade professionals. Simulations teach students
how to integrate material from different knowledge areas such
as business, economics, politics, law, culture, public policy,
and science; how to simplify and focus complex issues to the
priority issues; and how to make decisions in the face of imperfect
information and the time pressures typical in the real world.
Simulations teach not only the art of negotiation, dispute settlement,
and public advocacy, but also how to use research to pull together
information relevant to these processes. By choosing a current
conflict, students have access to a rich base of contacts, the
Internet, and other research sources, and can thus see how research
can be used to influence the direction or outcome of negotiations.
5.
Inventory of operational documents in Commercial Diplomacy,
reflecting best professional practice
ITCD
collects sample operational documents such as public policy
statements, strategy papers, briefing memoranda, press releases,
cables, public testimony, and speeches that reflect best professional
practice in the field. The inventory is expanded from time to
time to include documents representative of a wide range of
countries and cultures, and cover the full range of issues addressed
by Commercial Diplomats.
The preparation of operational documents is an essential part
of professional training in Commercial Diplomacy. It requires
students to integrate what they know and their analysis of an
issue within the operational context of the documents that are
the essential tools of Commercial Diplomacy. Operational documents
developed by experienced professionals are an essential teaching
tool. It gives students an idea of what such a document looks
like, what it contains, and what makes it effective. Students
also learn how different countries and cultures handle similar
tasks.
6.
Guide to training and information resources in the area of Commercial
Diplomacy available electronically on the Internet and in hard
copy
ITCD
collects and publishes information about training and information
resources in the area of Commercial Diplomacy available from
the Internet and other public sources. Teaching students where
relevant research materials can be obtained is an important
part of any training program. Commercial Diplomacy requires
practitioners to assemble information and analytical material
on a wide range of subjects, frequently on short notice, and
the information published on this website can serve as a starting
point for a student’s research efforts. The guide also
provides information about training materials in the field that
are available from other sources, thus giving instructors a
wider choice of materials.
7.
Form strategic alliances with institutions at home and
abroad that want to offer commercial diplomacy training to their
country's government and business communities, as well as, to
American exchange abroad
In
order to establish quality professional training in Commercial
Diplomacy, many more educational institutions, businesses, and
governments must establish training programs in the field. ITCD
facilitates the development of these programs by working directly
with such institutions, in addition to making its training materials
available. Strategic alliances allow the ITCD staff to leverage
an investment in the development of instructional materials
by translating them and adapting them for use by others globally.
A typical package includes:
- Commercial
Diplomacy curricula and instructional materials based on that
institution’s specific needs;
- Training
of instructors;
-
A set of distance learning modules and exercises transmitted
through the Internet;
-
Access to the ITCDonline Certificate Program on Commercial
Diplomacy (see No. 7 below); and
- Advanced
training for the school's very top candidates -- typically
up-and-coming officials and managers.
ITCD also advances this goal by establishing a close cooperative
relationship with other organizations involved in developing
training materials and programs in the field, including national
economic development agencies and international trade organizations..
ITCD hopes that cooperation will lead to strengthening these
programs, while at the same time enriching the materials that
can be made available by ITCD.
8.
ITCDOnline Certificate Program on Commercial Diplomacy
In
April 2005 ITCD launched the ITCDonline Certificate Program
on Commercial Diplomacy (www.ITCDonline.com),
which takes advantage of the wealth of ITCD’s resources.
ITCD believes that online learning is an essential element of
its education and training services, particularly with regard
to building trade capacity in the developing world. This comprehensive
online certificate program gives trainees and practitioners
in the field an opportunity to strengthen their knowledge and
analytical skills related to the professional practice of Commercial
Diplomacy. It also strengthens their ability to deal with international
trade and investment policy issues and to participate effectively
in the trade policy development and negotiation process. The
coursework contained in this 20-module program is broken down
as follows
•
Understanding Commercial Diplomacy
• The Global Trading System
• Communicating the Message
• Analyzing the Issues
• Negotiations and Building Consensus
• Dispute Settlement
Each
module within the above sections gives participants access to
the substantive training materials. Generally, the modules contain
the instructions, manual, PowerPoint, resource listings, exercises,
case study questions, and module exams (including a 100-question
final exam). Participants must correctly answer 80 percent of
the test questions to proceed to the next training module.
Anyone interested in taking the course can go to www.ITCDonline.com
and complete the application for enrollment. However, ITCD also
partners this online learning with its on-the-ground training
workshops to maximize the impact of the students’ learning
experience. And, even though the intended participants are those
who attend these workshops, conceivably the scope of participants
has the potential to be far wider.
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